Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada · Established 1841
Official website ↗Total Students
33,842
Setting
Suburban
Overview
Queen's University is a public research university in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, founded by royal charter in 1841, making it one of Canada's oldest universities. It is a member of the U15 group of Canada's leading research-intensive universities and is particularly well known for the Smith School of Business — one of Canada's most selective undergraduate commerce programs, admitting students directly from high school rather than through an internal transfer process — alongside the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the Faculty of Health Sciences. Queen's sits in Ontario and undergraduate applicants apply through the province-wide Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC); international applicants use OUAC's international application stream. The university's tricolour branding and unusually intense school spirit and alumni network are a recurring theme in why international students -- particularly from India -- choose Queen's, alongside strong Engineering employer ties across Ontario's industrial and tech sectors and the comparatively quieter, more affordable lakeside city of Kingston relative to Toronto. For prospective IELTS or TOEFL candidates, Queen's uses a two-tier system: a general university-wide minimum (IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 88) for most undergraduate programs, and a higher threshold for Smith Commerce specifically (IELTS 7.0 overall, no band below 6.5; TOEFL iBT 100), reflecting the more communication-intensive, case-study-driven nature of the business program.
Admissions, Requirements & Costs
Requirements, deadlines, and test-score cutoffs differ significantly between undergraduate and graduate/Master's programs — shown separately below.
Undergraduate
Acceptance Rate
42%
Documents required: Application via the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) international application stream, Official transcripts/mark sheets for the applicant's specific secondary curriculum, English language proficiency test scores (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo) unless exempt, Supplementary application (essays, activities) required specifically for Smith Commerce, Credential evaluation (e.g. WES) may be required for some non-North American qualifications
| Term | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (September) | Ontario's January 15 equal-consideration deadline; competitive programs (Smith Commerce, Health Sciences, direct-entry Computer Engineering) effectively fill consideration slots earlier, so applying well ahead of the deadline is recommended | Regular Decision |
Test Scores
IELTS Minimum
6.5 (Gabble rec. 7)
TOEFL Minimum
88 (4.5 new scale) · Gabble rec. 100 (5 new scale)
PTE Minimum
60
IELTS notes: General university-wide minimum: 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. Smith Commerce sets a higher threshold: 7.0 overall with no band below 6.5. Always confirm the specific program's requirement, since it is not uniform across faculties.
TOEFL notes: General university-wide minimum: 88 overall with no section below 20. Smith Commerce requires 100 overall.
TOEFL scores shown as: legacy 0–120 scale (new 1.0–6.0 CEFR-aligned scale, effective Jan 2026).
Accepted tests: IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test (accepted in many departments)
Waiver: Applicants who completed several years of secondary or post-secondary study taught and examined entirely in English in an approved country are typically exempt; exact waiver criteria are set by Queen's admission office and should be confirmed directly.
Tuition (Intl.)
CA$48,500
Popular Programs
Gabble Prep Insights
Where applicants lose points: For Smith Commerce specifically, Writing and Speaking carry outsized weight relative to the general university-wide minimum, since the program's 7.0/100 threshold sits well above the 6.5/88 most other Queen's undergraduate programs require, reflecting its case-study and presentation-heavy teaching style.
Applicants targeting the general 6.5/88 minimum for Engineering, Arts, or Life Sciences typically clear it without much extra preparation, but applicants aiming specifically for Smith Commerce often need dedicated additional prep to close the gap from a 6.5-level score to the required 7.0 with no band below 6.5.
Acceptance rate, tuition, and IELTS/TOEFL figures are drawn from this site's own existing Queen's University guide article (content/blog/queens-university-guide.mdx, published 2026-07-28), since several official queensu.ca admission pages could not be reached directly in this research pass. The university-wide undergraduate acceptance rate of ~40-45% is a directional estimate (Queen's does not publish one precise official figure) -- Smith Commerce (~18-22%), Health Sciences (under 10%), and direct-entry Computer Engineering (~20-25%) are considerably more selective. International tuition of CAD 48,500/year is a representative mid-point across the CAD 45,000-52,000 Arts/Science range; Smith Commerce (CAD 54,000-62,000) and Engineering (CAD 52,000-60,000) run higher -- always check the specific program. Total student population (33,842 total / 26,052 undergraduate / 5,733 postgraduate) is Queen's own reported figure as of 2022, the most recent consistent breakdown found; the ~2,057 gap between total and the undergraduate+postgraduate sum likely reflects professional/non-degree program students not itemized in this breakdown. International student count/percentage and application fee were not confirmed in this research pass and are left null rather than estimated.
Recommended prep timeline: 10 weeks
Graduate (Master's & PhD)
Documents required: Statement of purpose / research proposal (program-dependent), Academic and/or professional references, Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions, CV/resume, English language proficiency test scores unless exempt, GMAT or GRE score, weighted heavily for the Smith MBA alongside relevant work experience -- not required for most other graduate programs
| Term | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Varies by program | Program-specific, rolling through the admissions cycle; the 12-month Smith MBA runs its own application timeline separate from research-based graduate programs | Rolling |
Test Scores
IELTS Minimum
6.5 (Gabble rec. 7)
TOEFL Minimum
88 (4.5 new scale) · Gabble rec. 100 (5 new scale)
PTE Minimum
60
IELTS notes: Most graduate departments require 6.5-7.0 overall; the exact threshold and any component minimums are set per department/program -- confirm on the specific program's page.
TOEFL notes: Most graduate departments require 88-100 overall; the exact threshold is set per department/program.
TOEFL scores shown as: legacy 0–120 scale (new 1.0–6.0 CEFR-aligned scale, effective Jan 2026).
Accepted tests: IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test (accepted in many departments)
Waiver: Applicants who completed several years of study taught and examined entirely in English in an approved country are typically exempt; exact waiver criteria are set by the School of Graduate Studies and should be confirmed directly.
Tuition (Intl.)
CA$37,500
Popular Programs
Gabble Prep Insights
Where applicants lose points: For the Smith MBA, Speaking and Writing matter disproportionately given the program's case-based, cohort-discussion teaching format and its heavy weighting of GMAT/GRE scores and professional work experience alongside English proficiency.
Course-based master's tuition (CAD 30,000-45,000/year per this site's existing Queen's guide) is represented here at a CAD 37,500 mid-point; the Smith MBA is priced separately and considerably higher (~CAD 95,000-100,000 for the full 12-month program per that same source) -- always check the specific program. Graduate acceptance rate and application fee were not confirmed in this research pass and are left null rather than estimated.
Recommended prep timeline: 10 weeks
Programs Offered
Bachelor of Commerce
Undergraduate · 4 yr
Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering)
Undergraduate · 4 yr
MBA
Masters · 1 yr
PhD (various departments)
PhD · 4 yr
Campus Life
Queen's is known for unusually intense school spirit centered on its tricolour branding, with traditions (including a famously distinctive homecoming and Frosh Week culture) that alumni frequently cite as translating into a tight-knit, career-supportive alumni network after graduation. The Alma Mater Society governs undergraduate student life, and Queen's Gaels varsity teams compete in U SPORTS' Ontario University Athletics conference.
Notable clubs: Alma Mater Society (AMS) -- Queen's undergraduate student government, Queen's Gaels varsity athletics (U SPORTS -- Ontario University Athletics), The Queen's Journal -- student newspaper
Outcomes
Undergraduate
Graduate
Notable Alumni
Michael Ondaatje — Booker Prize-winning author of The English Patient; studied at Queen's University
Andrew Feustel — NASA astronaut; earned graduate degrees in geophysics from Queen's University
Elon Musk — Entrepreneur (Tesla, SpaceX); studied at Queen's University for two years before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania
Visa Interview Prep
As a university in Ontario (not Quebec), Queen's students follow the standard federal IRCC study permit process without the additional Quebec-specific CAQ step McGill requires. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds per IRCC's published cost-of-living threshold plus tuition; exact current proof-of-funds and processing-time figures should be confirmed directly against current IRCC study permit guidance, since these are periodically updated. Graduates of eligible Queen's programs can generally apply for Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), with permit length tied to program length up to 3 years.
- Most study permit applicants do NOT attend an in-person visa interview the way US F-1 applicants do -- the large majority of applications are decided from the online application and supporting financial and academic documents
- IRCC may request a short interview (in person or by video) or a biometrics appointment in specific risk-based cases
FAQs
Is this Queen's University in Canada or Queen's University Belfast?
This profile is for Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada -- a distinct institution from Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Confirmed via Queen's own admission office contact details (74 Union Street, Gordon Hall, Kingston, ON).
What IELTS score do I need for Queen's University?
Most undergraduate programs require IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. Smith Commerce sets a higher bar: 7.0 overall with no band below 6.5. Most graduate departments require 6.5-7.0 overall, set per department.
How selective is Queen's University, and does it vary by program?Undergrad
Queen's overall undergraduate acceptance rate is a moderate ~40-45%, but this masks significant variation: Smith Commerce runs around 18-22%, Health Sciences under 10%, and direct-entry Computer Engineering around 20-25%, while general first-year Engineering and Arts programs are considerably less selective than those headline programs.
Can I apply directly to Smith Commerce from high school?Undergrad
Yes -- unlike some Canadian business programs (e.g. Western's Ivey, which uses an internal transfer process after two years), Smith Commerce admits directly from high school, meaning your original application is effectively your one shot at admission.